I'm no expert on these matters but based on What Hifi review plus a couple of other expert reviews I found online, along with the guy above, I took the plunge and bought one of these without a demonstration. I wanted it primarily for stereo music but also for home cinema too.
I connected it with two subwoofer cables to each of my Cyrus Smartpower Plus's, which are used as Mono Blocks. My Yamaha RX V 1065 sends the Front L and R channels to my Cyrus PreXvs via pre outs then takes care of the centre and surrounds. I use PMC GB1 and DB1+ speakers. LFE are sent through the Front L and R then into the 800 Ultra.
I am more than happy with my purchase as listening to music and movies is much more enjoyable with that extra oomph. I highly recommend this Subwoofer as it is easy to set up, easy to use, looks lovely and sounds great. I particularly like the remote control as I don't have to get up and fiddle around at the back of the Sub every time I want to change the volume.
I have been running one of these for a while now First I hooked up to a pair of Audioengine A5s, somewhat of an expensive sledgehammer to crack a small nut, and fed with a Squeezebox Classic/Cambridge DACMagic combo.
Latterly I have integrated it with a pair of Dynaudio Focus 110 active speakers, again with a DACmagic, and also a Squeezebox Touch for streaming FLACS and 320kps MP4s. With the 110a's pulled forward 12" from the walls and utilising the auto EQ function of the SPL-800, I have never integratd a sub so quickly and easily. Using the 4 presets - i use Jazz which flattens the reponse, although the kids prefer Rock Setting - the sound is full fast and with oodles of timbre and ambience, particularly on live acoustic music. There is no audiable roll off and the sub is totally unobstrusive: until you need it, then it goes low with speed, control and just the right decay.
The WHF review mentions the 'rudimentary' nature of the EQ function, andI disagree - it is more than good enough. Of course one could tweak and fiddle around with meters etc, but why bother when it is that good out of the box? Unless you are a tinkering type. I just prefer to enjoy the music and I do that more with the Velodyne SPL 800ultra taking care of the sub 50hz space for me.
My frame of reference is with REL subs (Q200, Q150, and SVS. In my view The Velodyne is top of the pack for musical mid and sub bass. I don't use it for movies.
The build quality is very good - better than REL imho - and the unit is relatively tiny - I could have got away with and SPL-1000 Ultra without upsetting Mrs C too much.
Recommended and a great pairing for book shelf speakers.
Comments
I connected it with two subwoofer cables to each of my Cyrus Smartpower Plus's, which are used as Mono Blocks. My Yamaha RX V 1065 sends the Front L and R channels to my Cyrus PreXvs via pre outs then takes care of the centre and surrounds. I use PMC GB1 and DB1+ speakers. LFE are sent through the Front L and R then into the 800 Ultra.
I am more than happy with my purchase as listening to music and movies is much more enjoyable with that extra oomph. I highly recommend this Subwoofer as it is easy to set up, easy to use, looks lovely and sounds great. I particularly like the remote control as I don't have to get up and fiddle around at the back of the Sub every time I want to change the volume.
I have been running one of these for a while now First I hooked up to a pair of Audioengine A5s, somewhat of an expensive sledgehammer to crack a small nut, and fed with a Squeezebox Classic/Cambridge DACMagic combo.
Latterly I have integrated it with a pair of Dynaudio Focus 110 active speakers, again with a DACmagic, and also a Squeezebox Touch for streaming FLACS and 320kps MP4s. With the 110a's pulled forward 12" from the walls and utilising the auto EQ function of the SPL-800, I have never integratd a sub so quickly and easily. Using the 4 presets - i use Jazz which flattens the reponse, although the kids prefer Rock Setting - the sound is full fast and with oodles of timbre and ambience, particularly on live acoustic music. There is no audiable roll off and the sub is totally unobstrusive: until you need it, then it goes low with speed, control and just the right decay.
The WHF review mentions the 'rudimentary' nature of the EQ function, andI disagree - it is more than good enough. Of course one could tweak and fiddle around with meters etc, but why bother when it is that good out of the box? Unless you are a tinkering type. I just prefer to enjoy the music and I do that more with the Velodyne SPL 800ultra taking care of the sub 50hz space for me.
My frame of reference is with REL subs (Q200, Q150, and SVS. In my view The Velodyne is top of the pack for musical mid and sub bass. I don't use it for movies.
The build quality is very good - better than REL imho - and the unit is relatively tiny - I could have got away with and SPL-1000 Ultra without upsetting Mrs C too much.
Recommended and a great pairing for book shelf speakers.